Cleaning Paint Brushes

As soon as I am finished painting with my Purdy paint brush, I immediately place it in a jar of water or place it under the faucet with cool water running.  I have a kitchen scrub brush that I use to comb the paint gently from the brush, starting at the top and working through the ends.

 

When I have removed as much of the paint as I can, I use a bit of blue Dawn dish detergent and gently work that into the bristles.  I once again comb, gently through the brush to remove any stubborn paint specks.

 

Rinse throughly with cool water until all paint and Dawn dish detergent has been removed.

 

 

Shake or dab off excess water and reshape the bristles with your fingers.  Set aside to dry.

 

Your brushes should stay nice for a very long time with this method.

 

Hugs, Nancy

In Praise of Frogtape

 

I have had this roll of tape for a while.  I intended to use it but then I put it in a drawer and forgot about it for a few weeks.

 

I needed to work on a headboard for a wedding banner of sorts and thought of the Frog tape.  I dug it out of the clutter in the drawer and began to apply to the headboard.

 

 

 

 

I first applied small pieces around the center oval and then straight pieces across the top edge of the bottom. 

 

I had previously painted the headboard a shabby white with satin finish Behr Paint from Home Depot.

 

 

I got out my trusty can of Rust o Lum Chalkboard Paint and using a Purdy brush, I painted two coats as suggested in the directions on the paint can. One going across the piece and one going up and down. Allow a day to dry inbetween coats.

 

 

I worked right up to the tape with my Purdy brush and the Frog Tape did the job.

 

 

 

I am ready to rub the Chalkboard surfaces with the side of a piece of chalk, wipe it off with a dry cloth and write the names of the bride and groom, date.

 

 

 

Just so you are aware, no paint came off with the tape, YEAH!!

All remarks have been voluntary.  I have not been compensated in anyway for my review.

 

This tape is great!  I am going to use it everytime now!

 

 

Hugs, Nancy

 





 

Mantle

Beautiful carved mantle, wood, 4' x 6', inside 37" H x 48" L.  This would be a beautiful headboard.

$250

Turquoise and Red Step Stool Vintage

I was wandering around a thrift store the other day and saw a great little stool.

My mouth started to water as I thought of all the colors it could be.

Before I could get there, two other ladies spotted it and were discussing it's merits.

I was crushed.  I pretented to be looking at other things, hoping that they would pass it up.

The walked around the corner and started talking about something else.

I walked over, put it in my cart and one of them said to the other "weren't you going to get that?  Oh just let her have it".  They had abandoned it, I did not snatch it from them, although I wanted to.

This is how it looks today!

It is bright and cherry, fun colors and sturdy.  It is a vintage stool and is all wood.

It is a sweet addition to any kitchen or bath.

$29.00

at Merchant Square Antique Marketplace

Chandler, AZ



Pedestal Round Side Table

This was once a simple white table waiting to be made into something extraordinary. 

I sanded the lacquer finish off and then primed and painted it AS Chalk Paint Graphite.

Sanded the edges, put a decal in black in the center.

This is the great result.  I am so happy with it.

It is now available in BOOTH 104

Merchant Square Antique Marketplace

Chandler, Arizona

Cherubs Mirror

Sometimes you see something in gold and black and you just know it could be so

beautiful redone.  I was brave and bought this mirror in all of it's blazing gold shine and black accents.

After carefully, cleaning, priming and painting with AS Chalk Paint and two waxes, this is

the result.  Utter perfection.  Such details and beauty to drink in.  I am in love again.

It does need a new wire on the back and then it is off the Merchant Square Antique Marketplace

Booth 104

$165

White Buffet Credenza TV Stand

I love how this turned out.  It is shabby white with sanding.

I want to keep it myself but alas no room.

50" x 19.5" x 35"A

$189

Carved Cabinet Armiore

This is the cutest piece of furniture.  All the carved details and outstanding handles are just wonderful.  It has been painted shabby black and then lightly sanded to bring out the ornate carvings on it.  It is a custom piece from 1966, french country and all wood.

Look at all the room inside.  Three drawers that are roomy and a large cubby with one divider.  The drawer at the top is so pretty.

Photo of the details.

Measures: 33" A x 57" H x 18" D

Price: $239

A Glimpse

  

The bed went in two day ago and it sold yesterday.  The sofa table and other things are still available.

Darling Podium available.

Ornate metal towel holder with antique baby quilts.

Fun vintage green dresser with mirror.  Vintage gold chair.

China cabinet in blue.

                           I thought you might like a glimpse of what the booth looks like today.

Creating

Sometimes the process is the most fun and work.  It is where I can take a bit of liberty and create something wonderful, beautiful and useful.

I love to paint furniture.  I love the hunt for it, thinking about it, choosing the color for it and then watching it become a thing of beauty, destined for a loving home.  I know the things I paint are decorating homes and business around the Mesa - Phoenix area.  I am proud of that.

Each time a piece sells from Merchant Square Antique Marketplace, my heart sings just a little bit.

So thank you to everyone who gazes, looks, touches, sell me a piece or buys something from me.

Thank you for loving my work and helping me use my talents.

As a thank you, I am going to show you the process and products used to create most of the things I do.

I use a Purdy paint brush. 

It really does pay to buy the best one.  It is a joy to use and I clean it quickly after each use, smooth the bristles and let it air dry.

I am using Anne Sloane Chalk Paint for this project.  It is $39.00 a quart.

I usually use two coats.  It is a great paint. 

I use two kinds of wax on the chalk paint.

Clear Wax by Anne Sloan, $30 a can.

I also use Briwax dark wax, $20 a can

Now for the project piece.

I am painting a cute french provencial china cabinet.  As you can see, I had to spackle the top and will be sanding shortly to smooth it out.  I have applied one coat of AS Chalk paint to the bottom piece and part of the top.  I will finish painting the outside top and after sanding the bottom top.  The paint dries quickly or in a bit I will do a second coat.

This is where you choose to sand or not to sand.  You can lightly sand all the corners, edges, detailing or not.  It is up to you.  It depends on the piece if I do it or not.

After sanding or not, you put clear wax over the entire piece.  Everywhere you put paint, you put clear wax.  Do a small area at a time as you will be wiping it off right after applying it.  Use a rag or brush to apply.  After the entire piece has been clear waxed, apply a scant coat of dark wax, work in a small area and wipe it right off.  If some sticks, use a bit of clear wax over it and rub again.  Do this to the entire piece.  The color will darken and obtain age with this process.  It will be stunning when done.

The top so far.

and the bottom with one coat of paint and spackle on top.

I ended up using a latex satin finish paint on this piece. 

 I used my trusty Purdy Paint Brush.

I had intended to use Anne Sloan Chalk Paint but the Mini Stockest was out to wax until Tuesday at the earliest and I did not want to wait that long so I switched paint Behr Paint and Primer, satin finish.  With heavy sanding, with 80 grit sandpaper to bring out all the ornate details it changed the whole appearance of this buffet

.  I scrubbed the handles with a wire brush to clean them and it is beautiful!

Finished bottom, it looks perfect like it is so I am not going to finish the top.  When this was listed on Craigslist, it sold right away.

Thank you for coming along on this wonderful fun trip with me.

Hugs, Nancy